Lauds

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT LAUDS - PAGE 4

DURBAN: Global business leaders, including Chairman of India's Tata group Ratan Tata, have lauded South Africa's economic policies and stressed the need to attract foreign investors in order to achieve a higher growth rate. Accelerated growth plan and skill development also figured in discussions had with Tata and other members of the South Africa International Investment Council and President Thabo Mbeki at Magaliesberg near Johannesburg. The three-day talks ended on Sunday evening.

In Pics: Big Bang Experiment GENEVA: Scientists cheered the successful start of a huge particle-smashing machine on Wednesday aiming to recreate the conditions of the "Big Bang" that created the universe. The debut of the machine that cost 10 billion Swiss francs ($9 billion) registered as a blip on a control room screen at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, at about 0730 GMT. The physicists and technicians huddled in the control room cheered loudly again an hour later when the particle beam completed a clockwise trajectory of the accelerator, successfully completing the machine's first major task.

UNITED NATIONS: Lauding India's improved disaster risk management and accuracy of its meteorological department, the UN has said timely warnings on cyclones have helped "dramatically" reduce mortality during natural calamities. The Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction released by the United Nations said that the accuracy of forecasts made by the Indian Meteorological Department has greatly improved over the years. It cited the 2013 cyclone Phailin that hit Odisha, saying "in a significant improvement" from previous years, warnings were disseminated four days before the cyclone made landfall.

WASHINGTON: The US has asked Pakistan to follow through its commitment to stop infiltration in Jammu & Kashmir "in a concerted and pro-active manner" and said the successful completion of elections in the state is the first step in bringing peace to the region. "We welcome the successful conclusion of elections in Kashmir," assistant secretary of state for South Asia Christina Rocca said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday applauded the Indian diaspora in Malaysia for its contribution to the economic, political and cultural fabric of this country while preserving their Indian roots and culture. "This is not an easy task but you (the diaspora) have successfully done so," he told more than 500 members of the ethnic Indian community here at the packed ballroom of Renaissance hotel. The gathering included S Subramaniam, Malaysian Human Resources Minister and leader of the largest ethnic Indian political party 'Malaysian Indian Congress', apart from business leaders and corporate heads of Indian ethnicity.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today saluted the air force personnel on Air Force Day saying they are the nation's pride and their bravery and commitment continues to inspire. "On Air Force Day, I salute our air force personnel. They are our pride and their bravery, commitment and dedication continues to inspire," the Prime Minister said. Today is the 82nd Air Force Day . The Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8, 1932 when it was created as an auxiliary air force of the Indian Empire.

PATNA: With the Nitish Kumar government about to complete two months in office, a broader roadmap for allround development for Bihar has been drawn and steps taken to rein in the criminals and kidnappers, a fact disagreed by the opposition who paint a sorry picture under the NDA rule. Repeating his government's strong resolve to bring Bihar back to rails despite roadblocks put in by anti-social elements by enacting kidnapping and dacoity, chief minister Nitish Kumar had recently said an atmosphere of development has already taken shape and no no element could destroy it. Working over-time to check law and order situation and chalk out developmental schemes, Kumar had said his government which was sworn in on November 24, would not rest before putting Bihar on the front row of development.

BHIWANI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday lauded the decision by the party-led government in Haryana to give "adequate compensation" to farmers whose lands were acquired for Special Economic Zones and said this should set an example for the entire country. She appreciated the number of programmes taken up by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for all sections of society, especially the decision to allot plots of 100 sq. yards to poor. The chief minister said his government had announced a compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre annually for 33 years to farmers whose lands were acquired to develop SEZs in the state.

ON BOARD INS SAVITRI: The ninth Presidential Fleet Review got off to a spectacular start in this port city on Sunday with President APJ Abdul Kalam declaring that the nation was proud of its naval forces. Describing PFR '06 as a "beautiful experience," the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said the display of India's maritime might had given him confidence and "the nation is assured of its maritime security". "It indicates India's power, maritime power, sea power.

NEW DELHI: A travel agent's body today welcomed Thailand Government's decision to not to charge visa fees from Indian tourists saying "such steps would attract more tourists. " "Thailand authorities have stopped collecting visa fees from Indian tourists starting June 24. Now tourists will have to pay only VFS charges for visa processing while applying for a visa," a statement from Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) said. Welcoming the move Rajji Rai, President-TAAI said, "We enthusiastically welcome this move by Thailand tourism department and appreciate their proactive approach towards encouraging tourism sector.